The Golden Gate Bridge

Some of the most important landmarks in the United States include feats of architecture and
modern engineering. San Francisco, California, is a beautiful city on its own, but it is also
home to The Golden Gate Bridge, a 1.7 mile suspension bridge connecting the San Francisco
Peninsula to the Marin Headlands. The bridge holds the title of one of the Wonders of the
Modern World according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
One of the most popular ways to appreciate the bridge is to take an excursion to the Golden
Gate National Recreation Area just outside of San Francisco. The park contains hiking trails,
great spots for picnicking, and offers some of the best vantage points for panoramic
photographs of the bridge leading into the city.
David recently had some friends visit him in San Francisco, and he made sure to include a
visit to the recreation area as part of their tour. They enjoyed walking through the trails,
observing some of the native wildlife, and even having a casual picnic in the park. David’s
friends were thankful that he guided them through this impressive area of California. They
made sure to take a group photograph with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
David’s friends had the picture framed, and they later presented it to David in order to thank
him for his hospitality during their stay.

London
(No. 36 – 40)
London is a famous and historic city. It is the capital of England in the United Kingdom. The
city is quite popular for international tourism because London is home to one of the oldest-
standing monarchies in the western hemisphere. Rita and Joanne recently traveled to London.
They were very excited for their trip because this was their first journey overseas from the
United States.
Among the popular sights that Rita and Joanne visited are Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and
the London Eye. Big Ben is one of London’s most famous monuments. It is a large clock
tower located at the northern end of Westminster Palace. The clock tower is 96 meters tall.
Unfortunately, Rita and Joanne were only able to view the tower from the outside. The
women learned that the tower’s interior is undergoing renovations until 2021.
Fortunately, the London Eye, the city’s famous Ferris wheel, was open to the public. The
London Eye is situated along the southern shores of the Thames River. This attraction stands
135 meters high. It is one of London’s most well-known spots for gaining aerial views of the
city. Each capsule of the Ferris wheel can hold up to 25 passengers. When their capsule
stopped at the top of the Ferris wheel, the women took spectacular panoramic photographs of
the beautiful cityscape below.
The last place that Rita and Joanne visited was Buckingham Palace, the home of the Queen of
England. The women were impressed by the palace’s incredible architecture and historical
value. Both Rita and Joanne enjoyed watching the Queen’s guards outside the palace. These
guards wore red tunic uniforms, shiny black boots, and bearskin hats. Despite the women’s
attempts to catch the attention of the guards, the guards are specifically trained to avoid
distractions. Because of this, the guards ignored the women completely.
Joanne and Rita had an amazing time visiting the city of London, and they are inspired to
seek more international travel destinations in the future.

Washington, D.C.
(No. 41 – 45)
Yesterday, Stephen returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States.
His visit took place during the week prior to the Fourth of July. Logically, there were many
activities and celebrations in town in preparation for Independence Day. During his stay in
the city, Stephen visited a lot of important historical sites and monuments, and he left with a
deeper understanding of the political history of the United States.
Stephen spent a lot of time outdoors exploring the important monuments surrounding Capitol
Hill. Of course, he saw the White House from its outside gate at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Stephen also visited the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Lincoln
Memorial. These statues and pavilions are dedicated to former U.S. presidents. They
commemorate the contributions that these leaders made throughout American history.
Washington, D.C. also has several war memorials dedicated to fallen soldiers during the
major wars of the 20th century.
Away from the Capitol Hill area, Washington, D.C. has many museums and art galleries
worth visiting. Stephen enjoyed his visit to Washington, D.C. because he learned a lot more
about American history after touring each important landmark.

Miami
(No. 46 -50)
Christina visited Miami during her winter vacation. She is from Boston, where it is cold
during the winter months. Miami, however, has a very warm climate. There are many sunny
days in Miami, and people can go to the beach all year long. Christina spent a good portion of
her trip on the beach to relax and sunbathe. However, she also explored Miami and its
surroundings.
Inspired by Miami’s proximity to the ocean, Christina visited the Miami Seaquarium to learn
about marine life. There, she watched a show using trained dolphins, killer whales, and other
aquatic mammals. She took a lot of pictures of the sea creatures jumping out of the water and
performing tricks.
Christina also took an excursion to the Everglades National Park. This park is a protected
area spanning 1.5 million acres. Because the park is mostly swampland, it is home to many
reptiles. Native animals include snakes, alligators, and crocodiles. The park is also great for
birdwatching. Christina enjoyed hiking the trails in the Everglades and observing the wildlife
in its natural environment.
When Christina returned to the city, she visited Little Havana. This is Miami’s Cuban
neighborhood. Christina could see that Little Havana’s people demonstrated a lot of pride for
their Cuban heritage. There were many outdoor shops and vendors, live musicians, and the
Cuban cuisine was delicious. Little Havana was Christina’s favorite part about her trip to
Miami. This neighborhood made Christina feel like she had traveled to Cuba without ever
having to leave the United States.